Category: Gran Fondo

When you think about Maryland or Washington D.C., great cycling doesn’t automatically come to mind. But the truth is that both states have large cycling communities.

In the early Autumn, cyclists from those areas (and from other states around the country) come out in big numbers to test their summer fitness at the Maryland Gran Fondo, part of the Suarez Gran Fondo National Series.

About the Maryland Gran Fondo

The site of the Maryland Gran Fondo is Frederick, Maryland, an hour from Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Gettysburg, PA. The event is an endurance ride and where the Gran Fondo National Championships will take place. To participate, riders do have to qualify.

But riders who are not looking to take part in the national championship ride can choose from three Maryland Gran Fondo courses. For young riders 14-16 and riders 70+ who want to ride in the Gran Fondo National Championship, there is a special course. They will ride 70 miles with three timed segments instead of the 100 mile course.

Four Courses and Timed Segments

The Maryland Gran Fondo features four dynamic courses with timed segments for each route. For this event, as is true for other events in the Suarez Gran Fondo National series, only the timed segments count and not a rider’s overall time from start to finish.

The courses for the gran fondo are as follows:

• 100 Mile Gran Route*
• 70 Mile JR 14-16 & SR 70+ #GFNATS Route*
• 60 Mile Medio Route
• 30 Mile Piccolo Route
• * Used for National Championships competition.

The event organizers state that while Maryland isn’t associated with lots of climbing, the state does have “one of the highest ratios of elevation gain per mile of any Gran Fondo National Series event.” But they say the cooler, early fall temperatures and high-quality pavement make the Maryland Gran Fondo a popular event.

Registration and Prize Raffle

All riders who register for the Maryland Gran Fondo are eligible for the raffle, which includes $5,000 in sponsorship prizes. If riders wear any Gran Fondo National Series jersey, they can earn an extra raffle ticket.

Registration for this event is quite expensive but probably in line with the cost of similar events around the country related to the Gran Fondo National Series. As a side note, the event organizers state the “100 mile Gran Route will gain 10,000 feet of elevation and travel through state parks, municipal forests, protected watersheds, and the Catoctin Mountain National Park.”

Keep in mind that if you want to ride in the Gran Fondo National Championships, as mentioned earlier, each rider will need to qualify. All other riders can ride the timed segments, challenge their legs, and enjoy Maryland’s enchanting scenery without qualifying.

Other Amenities Included With Rider Registration

The logistics for hosting a cycling event the caliber of the Maryland Gran Fondo requires the involvement of many people, local police, and volunteers. One of the highlights is this event will have closed, marked, and marshaled roads, which is not always the case with event rides.

The Maryland Gran Fondo will also supply “safety motos, mechanic and sag vehicles, staffed feed stations, and indoor bathrooms with hot showers…at the finish line.” The event organizers have also hired photographers to float around the various courses. Those pictures will be available a few days after the event.

Last Thoughts

The Maryland Gran Fondo looks to be a fun and challenging event. It’s always a plus when a big ride like this is well-supported with good sponsorship. While it definitely isn’t an affordable event to participate in, it’s a nice way to begin the end of the summer and the start of autumn.

The ride is on September 15th, so there is still time to sign up and end your summer on a challenging high note. After the event, you can stay on and explore Frederick, Maryland or venture into Baltimore or Washington D.C. Overall, that’s not a bad way to end the summer.